India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will discuss humanitarian support to Myanmar, security and India-Myanmar border concerns during his two-day working visit to Myanmar.
New Delhi: Continuing to give importance to its Neighbourhood First policy, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay a two-day working visit to Myanmar on December 22 and 23.
"During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will hold discussions with the State Administration Council, political parties and members of civil society," an official release said.
Issues relating to humanitarian support to Myanmar, security and India-Myanmar border concerns, and the political situation in Myanmar will be discussed, the release said.
The coup in February this year in Myanmar when Aung San Suu Kyi was toppled has significance of its own. The success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East Policy' also has a special significance to Myanmar and India's northeastern region.
In the context of the coup in Myanmar, New Delhi is making a tightrope walk. India has said it is disturbed at the developments in Myanmar under which Aung Sang Suu Kyi could be sent behind bars.
In response to media queries about the proceedings against Aung Sang Suu Kyi, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Dec 7, "We are disturbed at the recent verdicts. As a neighbouring democracy, India has been consistently supportive of the democratic transition in Myanmar."
Observers say some Naga militant groups may still have a nexus in Myanmar. In November, the government of India appointed Vinay Kumar as India's next ambassador to Myanmar.
The Mizoram government has officially informed the centre that over 20,000 Myanmar refugees have been 'residing' in the state which neighbours Myanmar's Chin province by mid-September. However, the centre has not given the incoming Myanmar people the status of 'refugees'. The state governments cannot declare them as refugees officially.
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